Particle-loaded nonwoven fibrous article for separations and purifications

ABSTRACT

A particle loaded, porous, fibrous compressed or fused article comprises a nonwoven fibrous polymeric web, which preferably is thermoplastic, melt-extrudable, and pressure-fusible blown microfibrous web, and sorptive particles enmeshed in said web, the particle loaded fibrous article has a Gurley number of at least two seconds, and the article is useful in separation science. A method of preparation of the article and method of use is also disclosed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/776,098, filedOct. 11, 1991, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a particle loaded fibrous article comprising afibrous polymeric web, and sorptive particles enmeshed in the web, thearticle being useful in separation science.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fabrics of melt-blown polymeric fibers are well known and are used toseparate fine particles from air and cooking oils and oil-basedmaterials from oil-water mixtures, e.g., as in crude oil water spills,as is well known in the art (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,764,527, 4,011,067 and4,604,203). Nonwoven webs have also been referred to as melt blownpolymer fibers (see British Patent No. 2,113,731) and as blownmicrofibers (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,373).

Spunbonded webs have been used for filtration and have been disclosed,for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992, 3,509,009, and 3,528,129. The'509 patent discloses applying charcoal to the filaments. A process forpreparing air-laid webs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,526.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,029,699 and 4,933,229 disclose sorbent packagingmaterials for liquid-containing bottles. The materials were melt-blowncompressed polyolefin.

Loading of sorptive particulates in nonwoven webs (sometimes alsoreferred to as blown microfibers) is also well known in the art anddisclosed in UK Patent GB 2113731, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,971,373, 4,433,024,4,469,734, 4,797,318, and 4,957,943. Utilities include face respiratorsfor removing particulates and gaseous contaminants, protective garments,fluid retaining articles, and wipers for oil.

A method is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 0 080 382) bywhich particles are retained by mechanical entanglement by being broughtinto contact with fibers while the fibers are still in a tackycondition. "The particles in the resulting fabric web are held firmlyeven if the fabric is abraded or torn when used as a wiper". This wasexplained in this reference which states: "The particles of superabsorbent material have relatively large diameter compared to thediameter of the individual microfibers and thus tend to be trappedwithin a network of the fibers and therefore little surface tack of thefibers is needed to maintain the super absorbent particles in place".

U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,001 teaches a sorbent sheet product comprising acoherent web of entangled melt blown fibers and an array of solidhigh-sorbency liquid sorbent polymeric materials uniformly dispersed andphysically held within the web, the particles swelling upon sorption ofliquid and the web expanding as the particles swell. The product rapidlyabsorbs and retains large quantities of liquid.

Many of the prior known nonwoven webs have shortcomings, among thembeing poor or low particulate loading capabilities. In some casesparticulates must be large, e.g., greater than 100 micrometers, to betrapped mechanically within a web, and formed webs often have poorphysical properties, such as lack of strength.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,570 teaches fuse bonding of conjugate fibers toprovide a water impervious laminated material wherein cores of theconjugate fibers retain their initial fiber-like integrity. Thelaminated material is useful as an absorbent disposable drape which isimpermeable to the passage of microorganisms and fluids.

To increase the strength of melt-blown polymeric fibers containingabsorbent particles adhering to the fibers, British Patent No. 2,113,731teaches hot calendaring or embossing with heated, patterned bondingrolls. The product is a fluid retentive nonwoven web.

High surface area particulate are known to be useful in separationprocesses such as extraction and chromatography. Columns of particulatesuch as nylon, alumina, zirconia, and silica, can provide a means ofseparating and analyzing mixtures by selective sorption. The process isbased on differences in the distribution ratios of components ofmixtures between a mutually immiscible mobile and fixed stationaryphase. The resultant separated components of mixtures can be furtherexamined.

Chromatographic articles comprising a fibrillatedpolytetrafluoroethylene matrix having enmeshed therein sorptiveparticulate have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,460,642, 4,810,381, 4,906,378, 4,971,736, 4,971,697, U.S. Ser. No.07/639,515 filed Jan. 10, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,610.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention provides a particle loaded, porous,fibrous compressed or fused article comprising

a) a nonwoven fibrous polymeric web, and

b) sorptive particles enmeshed in the web,

the particle loaded fibrous article having a Gurley time of at least twoseconds and being useful in separation science.

Preferably, the sorptive particles are non-swellable.

The article Of the invention which is porous to allow fluid flowtherethrough comprises a compressed or fused nonwoven fibrous webpreferably selected from the group consisting of a polyamide,polyolefin, polyester, polyurethane, and polyvinylhalide. Preferably,polyvinylhalide comprises at most 75 weight percent fluorine, and morepreferably at most 65 weight percent fluorine. The article is useful inseparation science and specifically for extraction, purification, orremoval of soluble or insoluble organic or inorganic materials fromfluids, including water, wastewater, and air. The webs can comprisethermoplastic, melt-extruded, compressed (e.g., calendered, mechanicallypressed, etc.) or fused fibrous webs or they can be air-laid orspunbonded, mechanically pressed, fibrous webs.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a novel stackedarticle for use in separation science.

In a further aspect, this invention provides a solvent-free process forpreparing articles of this invention comprising

(a) providing a blown-microfibrous polymer web,

(b) introducing from more than 0 to 95 weight percent, preferably 5 to95 weight percent, more preferably 50 to 95 weight percent, and mostpreferably 80 to 90 weight percent, of a sorptive particulate into theweb compared to total weight of the web,

(c) at least one of compressing and fusing a portion of, and preferablyall of, the web at temperatures from 20° C. to 220° C., preferably 40°to 150° C., and more preferably 75° to 125° C., at an applied pressurein the range of zero to 620 Kpa (0 to 90 psi), preferably 200 to 550Kpa, to provide an article having a Gurley time of at least 2 seconds,preferably at least 4 seconds and up to about 100 seconds, and

(d) cooling the resultant web.

In another aspect, a solid phase extraction method is described forrecovering an organic or inorganic analyte from a fluid comprising thesteps of:

passing the analyte-containing fluid through a sheet-like article of theinvention and subsequently recovering at least one of the eluant,effluent, and article containing the sorbed analyte.

In a still further aspect, a method is disclosed for using a stack ofparticulate-containing solid phase extraction media of the presentinvention (which preferably are sheet-like materials, more preferably inthe form of disks), wherein the particulate can be of one composition ora blend of compositions, comprising the steps of:

passing the analyte-containing fluid through a stack of 2 to 10 disks,or more, according to the present invention and subsequently recoveringat least one of the eluant, effluent, and article containing the sorbedanalyte.

Use of media of the invention as extraction sheets show surprisingadvantages in that: (1) high energy radiation, including gamma-radiationand electron beam (e-beam), are less destructive than to fibrillatedpolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) webs;

(2) webs have much higher tensile strength (at least 50%, preferably atleast 100% higher) and are more resistant to tearing compared tofibrillated PTFE webs;

(3) polymeric fibers can be selected to allow for control ofhydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the composite article to promotewetting of the article by the fluid;

(4) there can be advantageous use of stacked sheets, both of the samecomposition and different compositions, as a way of increasing capacity,percent recovery, and differentiating compounds depending on theirpolarity;

(5) a disk can have a blend of different particles and/or a blend ofdifferent polymeric webs, which can have some of the advantages of bothtypes of particles and/or webs;

(6) economy of manufacture can be achieved by use of a solvent-free,one-step manufacturing process and low cost starting material;

(7) reduction of solvent-based processes in manufacturing is anenvironmentally desirable goal.

In this application:

"halide" means fluoride, chloride, bromide, and iodide;

"polar" means at least one of hydrophilic and water-soluble;

"matrix" or "web" means an open-structured entangled mass of fibers,preferably microfibers;

"hydrophobic particles" mean particles with low surface polarity, i.e.,in the range of 0.1-0.5;

"hydrophilic" means water wettable, having high surface polarity (i.e.,greater than 0.5);

"ceramic" means nonmetallic, inorganic materials consolidated by theaction of heat;

"direct phase system" means a more polar stationary phase with a lesspolar moving phase;

"reverse phase system" means a less polar stationary phase with a morepolar moving phase;

"non-swellable particulate" means particulate having a change in volume,wherein ##EQU1## of less than 0.5, preferably less than 0.1, mostpreferably less than 0.01, where V_(g) is the volume of the particulatewhen swollen and V_(o) is the volume of the dry particulate;

"particles" or "particulate" means sorptive granules of diameter 1 to2000 micrometers, with a length to diameter ratio of 20 to 1, inaddition to particles as defined below;

"self-support" means that no rigid backing support is needed for thearticle; and

"particles" or "particulate" means those forms having diameter 1 to 200micrometers; this includes fibers with a length to diameter ratio of 1to 20, in addition to sorptive particles such as granules, beads, orpowders as defined above;

"sorbent" or "sorptive" or "sorption" means capable of taking up andholding by either absorption or adsorption.

"property modifier" means auxiliary particulate which does notparticipate in the sorptive extraction process but acts to alter aphysical property such as hydrophilicity of the composite article;

"fusing" means converting to a pre-molten state to promote partialinterfiber adhesion while maintaining sufficient porosity to allowpassage of fluid;

"compressing" means reduction in thickness of an article by reducing itsvoid volume; and

"Gurley time" means a densometer number (i.e., flow-through time) of atleast 2 seconds for 50 cc of air at 124 mm (4.88 in.) H₂ O pressure topass through a sample of the web having a circular cross-sectional areaof approximately 645 mm² (1 square inch). A temperature of approximately23°-24° C. (74°-76° F.) and 50 percent relative humidity are maintainedfor consistent measurements. The "Gurley" densometer or flow-throughtime may be measured on a densometer of the type sold under the tradedesignation "Model 4110" densometer by W. & L. E. Gurley of Troy, N.Y.,which is calibrated and operated with a Gurley-Teledyne sensitivitymeter (Cat. No. 4134/4135). The "Gurley" densometer time is determinedin a manner similar to a standard test of the Technical Association ofthe Pulp and Paper Industry of Atlanta, Ga., for measuring the airresistance of paper (TAPPI Official Test Method T 460 om-83 (which isincorporated herein by reference). Gurley time is inversely related tovoid volume of the particle-loaded web. Gurley time is also inverselyrelated to average pore size of the particle-loaded web.

The present invention teaches that pressing or fusing a porous polymericarticle comprising sorptive particulate dispersed therein provides amodified product, exhibiting minimal dusting effects, which is useful inthe quantitative isolation of components or pollutants from a fluid suchas water or air.

What the prior art has not taught that this invention teaches is aprocess and a solid phase extraction article comprising a compressed orfused particulate-containing nonwoven web (preferably blownmicrofibrous) comprising high sorptive-efficiency chromatographic gradeparticles, the article having controlled porosity and is useful forseparation science in general and specifically for concentration, andpurification, and removal of water soluble organic or inorganicmaterials from water, wastewater, oil, and other fluids such as air, andbiological fluids.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, fibrous articles of the present invention comprisemicrofibers which provide thermoplastic, melt-blown, and at least one ofpressed and fused nonwoven polymeric materials having sorptiveparticulate dispersed therein. The preferred blown microfibrous web ispolypropylene which is prepared as described below. Microfibrous webscan have average fiber diameters up to 10 micrometers.

In another embodiment, webs comprising larger diameter fibers (i.e.,averaging 10 micrometers up to 100 micrometers) can also be used topractice the present invention. Such webs provide articles with greaterflow rates than microfibrous articles. Such nonwoven webs can bespunbonded webs which can be made by a process well known in the art.(See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992, 3,509,009, and 3,528,129.)Spunbonded webs are commercially available, for example, from AMOCO,Inc. In addition, nonwoven -webs made from staple fibers can be formedon carding or air-laid machines (such as Rando-Webber™, Model 12BS,Curlator Corp., East Rochester, N.Y.) as is well-known in the art.Spunbonded or air-laid webs can be particle loaded and pressed undertemperature and pressures similar to those noted below for melt-blownwebs to achieve bonding of the layers and in some cases particles to thenonwovens. Another variation is to use bicomponent fibers such as apolyethylene sheath over a polyester core, where the lower meltingpolyethylene melts and causes the fibers and particles to adhere withoutimpairing the activity of the particles.

The present invention particle-loaded fibrous article, which preferablyis a microfibrous article, which has been compressed to increase itsdensity and decrease interstitial porosity comprises in the range of 30to 70 volume percent fibers and particulate, preferably 40 to 60 volumepercent fibers and particulate, and 70 to 30 volume percent air,preferably 60 to 40 volume percent air. In general, pressed sheet-likearticles are at least 20 percent, preferably 40 percent, more preferably50 percent, and most preferably 75 percent reduced in thickness comparedto unpressed articles.

The Gurley time of the fibrous article is at least 2 seconds, andpreferably it is in the range of 4 to 230 seconds. In contrast, apolypropylene fibrous carbon loaded dust and mist face mask 3M 9913™(3M, St. Paul, Minn.) has a Gurley number of less than 0.2 second.

The microfibers of the article of the invention can have an averagefiber diameter in the range of more than zero up to 10 micrometers,preferably 2 to 10 micrometers, and preferably 3 to 5 micrometers. Thearticle comprises pores having a mean pore size in the range of 0.1 to10 micrometers, preferably 0.5 to 5 micrometers.

Fibrous articles of the invention wherein the fiber diameter is largerthan that of microfibers can have an average fiber diameter in the rangeof 10 to 100 micrometers, preferably 10 to 50 micrometers. Mean poresize can be in the range of 5.0 to 50 micrometers.

Blown fibrous webs are characterized by an extreme entanglement offibers, which provides coherency and strength to an article and alsoadapts the web to contain and retain particulate matter. The aspectratio (ratio of length to diameter) of blown fibers approaches infinity,though the fibers have been reported to be discontinuous. The fibers arelong and entangled sufficiently that it is generally impossible toremove one complete fiber from the mass of fibers or to trace one fiberfrom beginning to end.

The invention is particularly useful to enmesh any kind of solidparticle that may be dispersed in an air stream ("solid" particle, asused herein, refers to particles in which at least an exterior shell issolid, as distinguished from liquid or gaseous). A wide variety ofparticles can have utility in a three-dimensional matrix arrangement inwhich the particles can interact with (for example, chemically orphysically react with, or physically contact and modify or to bemodified by) a medium or a component thereof to which the particles areexposed. More than one kind of particulate is used in some articles ofthe invention, either in mixture or in different layers of the article.Air-purifying devices in which the particles are intended for filteringor purifying purposes constitute a utility for sheet products of theinvention. Typical particles for use in filtering or purifying devicesinclude activated carbon, alumina, sodium bicarbonate, and silverparticles which can remove a component from a fluid by sorption,chemical reaction or amalgamation; or such particulate catalytic agentsas hopcalite, which catalyze the conversion of a hazardous gas to aharmless form, and thus remove the hazardous component.

Particulate material may have a spherical shape, a regular shape or anirregular shape. Particulate materials which have been found useful inthe invention have an apparent size within the range of 5 to about 600micrometers or more, preferably in the range of 40 to 200 micrometers.It has been found advantageous in some instances to employ particulatematerials in two or more particle size range falling within the broadrange.

It has been found in some cases that larger particles compared tosmaller particles give better particle retention or entrapment in theweb of the composite article.

In preferred products of the invention, solid particles comprise atleast about 20 weight percent of the total solid content of the fibrousarticle, more preferably at least about 50 weight percent, and mostpreferably at least 95 weight percent.

The sorptive particulate material (which can be one material or acombination of materials) useful in the present invention can benon-swellable or swellable in organic fluids or aqueous fluids and issubstantially insoluble in water or fluids. Not more than 1.0 gram ofparticulate will dissolve in 100 g. of aqueous or organic liquids orelution solvent into which particulate is mixed at 20° C. The sorptiveparticulate material can be 1) carbon or an organic compound which canbe a polymer or copolymer, and preferably is a copolymer of styrene anddivinylbenzene (90-10 to 99-1) and derivatives thereof, polymethacrylateester, or derivatized azlactone polymer or copolymer such as aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,824 and in U.S. Ser. No. 07/335,835,filed Apr. 10, 1989, which are incorporated herein by reference; 2) theparticulate can be organic coated inorganic oxide particles such assilica, alumina, titania, zirconia (see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,373),and other ceramics to which is sorbed or bonded an organic group such aspolybutadienyl or C.sub. 8 or C₁₈ hydrocarbyl, (a preferred organiccoated inorganic particle is silica to which is covalently-bondedoctadecyl groups; or 3) it can be unbonded uncoated inorganics.Preferred particulate materials are silica, alumina, and zirconia, withsilica being particularly preferred because of the ease in bonding avariety of hydrophobic and semi-hydrophobic coatings onto its surfaceand because they are commercially available.

Silica is available from Aldrich Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, Wis.).Zirconia is available from Z. Tech. Corporation (Bow, N.H.). Otherinorganic oxides are available (Aldrich Chemical Co.).

Other suitable particles for the purposes of this invention include anyparticle which can be coated with insoluble, non-swellable sorbentmaterials or the surface (external and/or internal) of which can bederivatized to provide a coating of insoluble, non-swellable sorbentmaterial. The function of these coatings is to provide specificfunctionalities and physical properties to effect chemical separationsand reactions. These include separations based on interactions such assorption, ion exchange, chelation, steric exclusion, chiral, affinity,etc. Preferred supports for such coatings include inorganic oxideparticles, most preferably silica particles. The insoluble,non-swellable sorbent coatings generally have a thickness in the rangeof one molecular monolayer to about 300 micrometers. Such particleshaving coated surfaces are well known in the art, see, for example,Snyder and Kirkland, "Introduction to Modern Liquid Chromatography", 2dEd., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1979) and H. Figge et al., "Journal ofChromatography" 351 (1986) 393-408 and include modified silicaparticulate, silica particles having covalently bonded thereto organicgroups including cyano, cyclohexyl, C₈ (octyl), and C₁₈ (octadecyl)groups. The coatings can be mechanically applied by in situ crosslinkingof polymers or the coatings can be functional groups covalently bondedto the surface of the particles. Many such coated particles arecommercially available (e.g., C₁₈ bonded phase silica, Alltech.Deerfield, Ill.).

As noted above, coatings which can be applied to inorganic particulatesuch as silica can be either thin mechanical coatings of insoluble,non-swellable polymers such as crosslinked silicones, polybutadienes,etc. or covalently bonded organic groups such as aliphatic groups ofvarying chain length (e.g., C₂, C₈, C₁₂, and C₁₈) and aliphatic aromaticgroups containing amine, nitrile, hydroxyl, chiral, and otherfunctionalities which alter the polarity of the coating. The silica, orother support particle, in this case, acts primarily as a carrier forthe organic coatings and particles are non-swellable. The variation inchemical composition of the coatings provides selectivity in molecularseparations and polarity.

The nonwoven web-particulate technology can be useful in a flow-throughor filtration mode wherein the composite article of the invention isused for preconcentration and isolation of certain materials forsubsequent analysis by high resolution column chromatography. In thismode, which is well known in the art, solvent and sample flow areintroduced at an angle of 90 degrees to the surface of the sheet. Thisis a conventional configuration and the separation path length is equalto the thickness of the sheet. The path length can be increased bystacking additional layers (preferably 2 to 10) which may be the same orof different composition but the individual layers are not intimatelybound together since the calendering operation may be limited to aspecific thickness. This mode is effective for one-step or multi-stepsorption-desorption separations. This mode is effective using reactiveparticulates to carry out chemical and physical reactions to bedescribed. The article strongly sorbs the component of interest onto areactive particulate allowing it to be recovered in a more concentratedand unified form. We found we can also form reactive membranes choosingparticulate for ion exchange, chelation, oxidation/reduction reactions,stearic exclusion, catalysis, etc.

Composite chromatographic articles of the invention can be of anydesired size and shape. Preferably the articles can be sheet-likematerials which, for example, can be in disk or strip form. Coating thenon-swellable particulate with very thin (monolayer) materials orthicker materials provided by in-situ crosslinking of polymers orcovalently bonding functional molecules on the surface of theparticulate allows the optimization of both chromatographic selectivityand separation efficiency.

This invention discloses the discovery of a liquid/solid extractionmedia also known as solid phase extraction (SPE) disk/sheet compositematerial and a method which is effective in removing organic andinorganic compounds such as certain pollutants from organic and aqueousliquids and gases. Solid phase extraction is a technique whereinuncoated solid particulate such as solid polymeric materials, silica,alumina, zirconia, and the like, and any of these particulate coatedwith insoluble polymeric phases or covalently bonded organic phases areused to preferentially sorb organic and inorganic compounds from liquidsor gases for isolation purposes. Representative compounds described inthis work are phthalates, dyes, amines, and nitrates, which can bepollutants of environmental concern in water. Some of these compoundsmay be commonly extracted from water using liquid/liquid (LLE)extractions, following methods described in EPA Method 507, 508, etc.,see publication of Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Officeof Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,Cincinnati, Ohio, "Methods for the Determination of Organic Compounds inDrinking Water", EPA-600/4-88/039 December 1988. It is highly desirableto replace (LLE) methods with SPE materials and methodology to reduceextraction solvent usage, extraction time, and environmental hazards.

The composite article of the invention provides a hybrid of columnparticle and membrane technologies to provide a means of overcoming thedeficiencies of conventional methods with substantial savings in timeand cost.

The present invention is especially useful when comprising highlyefficient sorptive particles for sorption of organic or inorganicmaterials from vapors and liquids. As used herein sorptive particles areparticles having sufficient surface area to sorb, at least temporarily,analytes which may be passed through the web. In certain embodiments,the particles sorb and bind the analyte while in other embodiments, theparticles sorb the analyte only temporarily, i.e., long enough to effecta chemical change in the analyte. Vapor-sorptive particles perform sucha function where the analyte is a vapor.

Examples of suitable vapor-sorptive particles include alumina,hopcalite, and porous polymeric sorbents. The preferred vapor-sorptiveparticles are activated carbon particles. A chemical reagent, e.g.,potassium carbonate, or a catalytic agent, including enzymatic agents,may be included with the vapor-sorptive particles to chemically changeor degrade sorbed vapors.

Adjuvants may be advantageously added to the particulate mixture in anamount up to 20 percent by weight of total particulate and the primaryparticulate material to provide further improvement in or modificationof the composite films of the invention. For example, modifierparticulate can include chromatographically inactive materials such aslow surface area glass beads to act as property modifiers and processingaids. It may be desirable to alter the level of the active particulateor to increase hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity. Coloring orfluorescesing particulate can be added to low levels (preferably up to10 weight percent of particulate) to aid in visualizing samplecomponents to be separated.

Chemically active particulate which indicate pH or acidity of thecomponent bands can be useful for diagnostic purposes.

Articles of this invention can be considered to be prepared in threesteps.

The first step involves extrusion of a molten polymeric material in sucha way to produce a stream of melt blown polymer fibers as taught in U.S.Pat. No. 3,971,373, the procedure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

In the second, optional, but most preferred step, particulate isintroduced into a stream carrying microfibers and become intermixed withthese fibers as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,373 the procedure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference to provide a self-supporting,durable flexible porous article comprising a web of entangled melt-blownorganic polymeric microfibers and a three dimensional array ofparticulates uniformly dispersed and physically held by entrapmenttherein.

In one embodiment a 25.4 cm (10 inch) wide microfiber matrix comprisingmicrofiber particle loaded webs can be prepared as described in Wente,Van A., "Superfine Thermoplastic Fibers," Industrial EngineeringChemistry, vol. 48, pp 1342-1346 and in Wente, Van A. et al.,"Manufacture of Superfine Organic Fibers" report No. 4364 of the NavalResearch Laboratories, published May 25, 1954.

More particularly, particle loaded microfiber webs can be prepared bymechanical trapping of particles by the microfiber stream where theparticles can be both entangled by and/or bonded to the fibers. In theexamples listed below, delivery of particles to the microfiber stream isaccomplished by introducing the particles into a laminar air streamdiffuser with a 1.9 cm (3/4 in) eductor device and allowing the laminarair stream to distribute the particles before converging them to theparticle loader exit, causing the particles to mix with the microfiberstream, becoming either entangled or bonded to the fibers. The particleloaded microfiber stream can then be collected to form a web.

The laminar air stream can be produced by a 5 hp air blower flowingthrough an aerodynamically designed diffuser with a cone angle 2 thetaof 10 degrees. Air volume flow rate through the diffuser is variable,and operated at less than 60 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM)- Theeductor feeds the particles to the converging air stream at a rate of400 g/min or less with the eductor air volume flow rate no more than 15SCFM.

The polymer mass flow of the microfiber stream is variable and for theExamples 1-22 below was operated at 16 g/min or more. Microfibers in theexamples were melt-blown microfibers that may be formed from a widevariety of fiber-forming polymeric materials. Such materials mayinclude, but are not limited to, polyurethanes, polyolefins, such aspolypropylene and polyethylene, polyesters such as polyethyleneterephthalate, and polyamides, such as nylon 6 and nylon 66. The meanfiber diameter of the microfibers was less than about 10 micrometers.

The sorptive particles become entangled in the web and generally resistdusting, i.e., particulate falling out of the web. Particularly, whenthe article has been pressed or fused at an elevated temperature,particles can adhere to the web.

Particle loaded microfiber webs can be collected at various basisweights, heat sealed, thermally calendered with and without otherthermoplastic nonwovens and sonically sealed, where applicable, with andwithout other thermoplastic nonwovens.

Particles in the examples listed below were, except where noted, silicawith mean average diameters of 57 micrometers and a distribution ofdiameters such that 90% of all particles had mean average diameters lessthan 85 micrometers and silica with mean average diameters of 320micrometers and a distribution of diameters such that 90% of allparticles had mean average diameters less than 537 micrometers. Allparticle sizes were measured by a Microtract FRA™ particle analyzer(Leeds and Northrup, North Waler, Pa.) which gave volume based meanparticle diameters. Particle selection is not limited to silica, and theprocess description above applied for particles with mean diameters fromless than 10 micrometers to greater than 840 micrometers.

In a third step, the above product can be compressed or fused (forexample, by at least one of calendering, heating, or pressing) atsuitable temperatures and pressures to form an easily handled sheetmaterial which can be in the range of 0.10 to 10.0 mm, preferably 0.20mm to 6.5 mm, most preferably 0.5 to 2.5 mm thick.

In another embodiment, the blown particle loaded web is heated in a moldto provide a self-supporting molded article comprising a web ofentangled melt blown organic polymeric microfibers and a threedimensional array of particulate uniformly dispersed and physically heldin the web, the article having a mean pore size in the range of 0.2 to10 micrometers.

In yet another embodiment, where, for example, a spunbonded or air-laidweb is commercially available or prepared separately prior to addingparticulate, the particulate can be sprinkled over the web and the webis agitated or manipulated to saturate the web with particulate. Excessparticulate is dusted off. It is also envisioned as being within thescope of the present invention to add particulate directly to the webduring its preparation. Loadings of at least 20 weight percentparticulate, preferably at least 50 weight percent, and more preferablyat least 80 weight percent particulate compared to total weight of thearticle, are useful for purposes of the present invention. Layers ofparticle-loaded webs can be stacked to achieve 10, 20, or more layers ofparticle-loaded webs. Pressing the layers a multiplicity of times usingheat (e.g., 20° to 220° C.) and pressure (e.g., 0 to 620 kPa) for alength of each press time in the range of 1 to 10 seconds, preferably 1to 5 seconds, then cooling the resulting pressed article to 20° to 25°C., to provide a compressed particle-loaded web having a Gurley time ofat least 2 seconds, preferably at least 4 seconds. Article thickness isin the range given above for microfibrous articles of the invention.

This invention is useful in the extraction of inorganic and organicsubstances from liquids and air in a flow-through or filtration mode.The invention can be used on an analytical scale, as in the testing ofwater samples for environmental pollutants. This invention can also beused on a larger scale as in the remedial removal of contaminants oranalytes from liquid or gas sources.

After use, the article can be recycled by simply eluting the sorbedpollutants from the article using a liquid capable of removing thesorbed materials from the sorbent. Heat or supercritical fluidextraction can also be used.

Composite articles have utility in a wide variety of separations whereinthe choice of the particulate material is useful for size controlledfiltration or steric exclusion, for simple one step or multistepsorption-desorption separations of specific components, forimmobilization of reactive particulate to perform chemical orbiochemical reactions, for ion-exchange conversions of cations andanions, for purification of materials, and for chromatographicseparations and analyses in both passive and forced flow modes, forhydrophobic reverse phase and direct phase chromatography, processeswhich are known to those skilled in the art.

Objects and advantages of this invention are further illustrated by thefollowing examples, but the particular materials and amounts thereofrecited in these examples, as well as other conditions and details,should not be construed to unduly limit this invention.

Examples 1 to 22 below teach melt-blown microfiber sheet-like articlesthat were prepared, except as noted, as described in Wente, Van A.,"Superfine Thermoplastic Fibers", Industrial Engineering Chemistry, vol.48, pp 1342-1346 and in Wente, Van A. et al., "Manufacture of SuperfineOrganic Fibers" Report No. 4364 of the Naval Research Laboratories,published May 25, 1954. The microfibers had a mean fiber diameter ofless than 10 micrometers and were collected on a porous screenedcollector. The webs had a weight of about 40 g/m² before being loadedwith particles. Particle-loading into melt-blown microfibers isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,373. All calendering was in the machinedirection (down-web) unless otherwise stated.

EXAMPLE 1

A blown microfiber sheet-like article was prepared from Exxon type3495G™ polypropylene (Exxon Corp., Baytown, Tex.) using conventionalmelt blowing apparatus as described in the above reference. Theparticles in this example were C₁₈ bonded silica, volume based meandiameter of 57 micrometers (W. R. Grace Company, Baltimore, Md.). Theparticle loaded microfiber article had a weight of 250 g/m², for aloading percentage of 83.6% by weight, and a thickness of approximately0.7mm. This particle loaded microfiber article was then thermallycalendered at 132° C. (270° F.) reducing the thickness of the web to 0.3mm. The article had a Gurley time of 38 seconds. Other articles can bemade wherein webs can be polyester or polyvinylchloride and otherparticulate can be Florisil™ oxide particulate (oxide of Ca, Mg, and Si)(J. T. Baker Inc., Phillipsburg, N.Y.).

Air permeability testing in all Examples was done using a densometermanufactured by the W. & L. E. Gurley Company, Troy, N.Y., USA, modelnumber 4110 NY 5826. Gurley times and liquid flow rates are directfunctions of mean pore size.

The test measured the time (in seconds) necessary for 50 cubiccentimeters of air to be moved through the microfiber particle loadedarticle under pressure (also called Gurley time). Longer times indicateda less permeable web and intuitively, smaller voids through which theair passes.

Higher values of the calender roll pressure at a given temperature gavelonger times for the air volume flow and hence, a less porous, and lesspermeable web. Graphs of the time for 50 cubic centimeters of air toflow through the web versus calender roll pressure (kPa) at 121° C. gaveslopes from 16 to 388, the units being (seconds for 50 cc/kPa).

From the data reported in Table 1 below, which describes the time andcalender roll pressure for a range of microfiber particle-loadedarticles when calendered at about 121° C. (250° F.), it can be seen thatGurley times increased with increased calender roll pressure.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Calendar Roll Pressure                                                                         Range of Gurley times                                        (kPa)            (sec.)                                                       ______________________________________                                        (comparative)    0 < t < 1                                                    138              2.2 < t < 54.4                                               276              4.4 < t < 107.8                                              413              6.6 < t < 161.2                                              550              8.8 < t < 214.6                                              ______________________________________                                    

Four samples of the particle loaded microfiber web made above were thenfurther thermally calendered at temperatures of 21° C., 38° C., 93° C.,and 121° C. and 550 kPa (80 psi) pressure moving at approximately 3.6m/min (12 ft/min) on a conventional two-roll Sterlco™ (Sterling Co.,Inc., Milwaukee, Wis.) temperature controlled calender whose rolls were36 cm in length and 18 cm in diameter, reducing the thickness of the webto about 0.5 mm. Resulting articles, labeled 3A-3D, are shown, alongwith calender temperatures and Gurley times, in Table 2, below. Flowtimes and dye recovery data for 47 mm disks cut from samples 3A-3D arealso shown in Table 2.

The disks were evaluated in much the same manner as the Empore™Extraction Disks (see Hagen, et al., Analytica Chimica Acta 236 (1990)157-164), namely, the disk was placed in a standard 47 mm laboratoryfiltration device (Millipore type, Millipore Corp., Bedford, Mass.),pre-wet with a few ml of methanol, washed with a few ml of water, beingcareful not to let the disk surface go dry after the addition ofmethanol, then passing a liter of reagent grade water containing 0.5%methanol and 100 micrograms per liter of Disperse Red 1 (AldrichChemical Co.) through the disk with a vacuum assist.

Flow times (min/L) for the liter of water to pass through the disk areshown in Table 2, below, and are shown to directly correlate with Gurleynumbers and calender temperatures.

After filtration of a liter of the dye-spiked water, the dye was elutedfrom the disk with two 5-ml portions of methanol. The eluates werecombined and the intensity of the color was read in a spectrophotometerat 480 nanometers. This intensity was compared to that of a standard dyesolution which was volumetrically adjusted to be the concentration whichwould be obtained for a 100% recovery from the disk. The data are shownin Table 2, below.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Flow Time and Gurley No. v. Calender Temperature                                                                   Percent                                                              Calender Recovery                                 Sample Flow Time Gurley time                                                                              temperature                                                                            (Disperse                                No.    (min./liter)                                                                            (sec.)     (°C.)                                                                           Red 1)                                   ______________________________________                                        3A     1.5        2         21       81                                       3B     1.4        4         38       98                                       3C     3.7        6         93       104                                      3D     9.7       33         121      102                                      3E*    5.3       40         --       98                                       (compar-                                                                      ative)                                                                        3F**              <0.2                                                        (compar-                                                                      ative)                                                                        ______________________________________                                         *Empore ™ Disk for Environmental Analysis, Catalog 12145004 (Varian        Sample Preparation Products, Harbor City, CA)                                 **Polypropylene face mask designated 3M 9913 (3M, St. Paul, MN)          

The data of Table 2 show that articles of the invention can have Gurleytimes and percent recoveries similar to that of Empore disks, which arefibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene, non-compressed, particle-loadedwebs, a more expensive state-of-the-art solid phase extraction membranewith controlled porosity, and they show a much better Gurley time than apolypropylene particle-loaded face mask.

EXAMPLE 2

A microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as in Example 1 from HimontCorporation (Baton Rouge, La.), PF 442™ polypropylene resin. Theparticles loaded were silica, Grade 633, a chromatographic grade, with amean average diameter of 57 micrometers, available from the W. R. GraceCompany, Baltimore, Md. The particle loaded microfiber web had a weightof 235 g/m², for a loading percentage of 83% by weight, and a thicknessof approximately 0.7 mm. This particle loaded microfiber article wasthen thermally calendered as above at a temperature of 132° C., reducingthe thickness of the web to 0.5 mm. The article had a Gurley time of 36seconds. The tensile specific strength (grams force divided by thearticle's weight in grams/meter²) was measured as 23.4 with 6%elongation using an Instron™ test instrument (Park Ridge, Ill.). Incomparison, the Empore™ Extraction Disk of sample 3E had a tensilespecific strength of 10.4 with 100% elongation. These data show improvedtensile strength for the article of the invention compared to the PTFEarticle.

EXAMPLE 3

A particle loaded microfiber article was prepared as in Example 2 with aloading percentage of 87% by weight and was calendered as above at atemperature of 132° C. The article had a Gurley time of 56 seconds. Thetensile specific strength was measured for this article to be 24.3 with6% 3O elongation.

EXAMPLE 4

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as inExample 2 with a loading percentage of 84% by weight and was calenderedas above at a temperature of 121° C. The article had a Gurley time of104 seconds.

EXAMPLE 5

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as inExample 2 with a loading percentage of 90% by weight and was calenderedas in Example 1 at a temperature of 132° C. The article had a Gurleytime of 31 seconds.

EXAMPLE 6

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as inExample 2 with a loading percentage of 87% by weight and was calenderedas in Example 1 at a temperature of 132° C. twice in the web'smachine-direction and also calendered twice at 132° C. and 550 kPa atapproximately 3.6 m/min on a conventional two-roll Sterlco temperaturecontrolled calender whose rolls were 36 cm in length and 18 cm indiameter in the web's cross-direction. The article had a Gurley time of56 seconds.

EXAMPLE 7

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as inExample 2 with a loading percentage of 84% by weight and was calenderedas in Example 5. The article had a Gurley time of 18 seconds.

EXAMPLE 8

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as inExample 2 with a loading percentage of 84% by weight and was calenderedas in Example i at a temperature of 132° C. once in the web'smachine-direction and also calendered once at 132° C. and 550 kPa atapproximately 3.6 m/min on a conventional two-roll Sterlco temperaturecontrolled calender whose rolls were 36 cm in length and 18 cm indiameter in the web's cross-direction. The article had a Gurley time of62 seconds.

EXAMPLE 9

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as inExample 6 with a loading percentage of 84% by weight and was calenderedas in Example 6. The article had a Gurley time of 84 seconds.

EXAMPLE 10

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as inExample 4 with a loading percentage of 90% by weight and was calenderedas in Example 5. The article had a Gurley time of 44 seconds.

EXAMPLE 11

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article as in Example 8 with aloading percentage of 90% by weight and calendered as in Example 8. Thearticle had a Gurley time of 102 seconds.

A blown microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as in Example 1 andparticle loaded as in Example 2 with a loading percentage of 73% andseparate samples were calendered as in Example 1 at temperatures of 21,38, and 93 degrees Centigrade. The articles had Gurley times of 32, 77,and 214 seconds, respectively.

EXAMPLE 13

A particle loaded microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as inExample 12 with a loading percentage of 53% by weight and calendered at121° C. and 550 kPa. The article had a Gurley time of 104 seconds.

EXAMPLE 14 (comparative)

A blown microfiber web was prepared as in Example 1 and particle loadedwith RFM-C Activated Coconut Carbon (30×140 mesh) (Calgon CarbonCorporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.) with a mean diameter of 360 micrometerswith a loading percentage of and separate samples were calendered as inExample 1 but 70 kPa, at temperatures of 21, 38, and 93 degreesCentigrade. The articles had Gurley times of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 sec.,respectively. Additional pressing or fusing would be required to provideacceptable separation articles for the present invention.

EXAMPLE 15

A microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as in Example 1 from B. F.Goodrich Corporation (Cleveland, Ohio) type 58216™ polyurethane resin,with similar fiber diameter and weight as disclosed in Example 1 and wascollected on a porous screened collector. The particles loaded weresilica from the W. R. Grace Company as described in Example 1. Theparticle loaded microfiber article had a loading percentage of 78% byweight. This particle loaded microfiber article was then thermallycalendered three times at temperatures of 21, 38, 15 and 93 degreesCentigrade and at 220 kPa. The article had a Gurley time of 5 seconds.

EXAMPLE 16

A blown microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as in Example 15 andparticle loaded with 40 micrometer alumina (Rhone-Poulenc, France) witha loading percentage of 80% by weight and was calendered as in Example15. The article had a Gurley time of 4 seconds.

EXAMPLE 17

A microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as in Example 1 except thatthe web was Allied Chemical Corporation, (Morristown, N.J.) CFX™wettable nylon resin, with similar mean fiber diameter and weight asdisclosed in Example 1 and collected on a porous screened collector. Theparticles loaded were silica from the W. R. Grace Company as describedin Example 1. The particle loaded microfiber web article had a loadingpercentage of 43% by weight. This particle loaded microfiber web wasthen thermally calendered sequentially at temperatures of 21, 38, and 93degrees Centigrade at 550 kPa. The article was useful in the presentinvention.

EXAMPLE 18

This example demonstrates the ability of a cation-exchange resin loadedarticle to remove cationic species from aqueous solutions.

A blown microfiber sheet-like article was prepared as in Example 1 andparticle loaded with a Rohm and Haas (Philadelphia, Pa.) weak acidcation exchange resin Grade H, having a mean particle size of 83micrometers and a loading percentage of 86% by weight and it wascalendered as in Example 1 at a temperature of 21° C. and 276 kPa. Thearticle had a Gurley time of 2 seconds.

To test the ability of the article to remove cationic materials fromwater solutions, 25 mm disks were cut from the article and assembled ina standard 25 nun filter disk holder. The usable area of the article wasa circle having a diameter of 15 mm exposed to the solution flowingthrough, which correlated to 1.77 square cm.

Five ml of an aqueous solution of n-butylamine, adjusted to pH 7 with adilute solution of acetic acid, was slowly filtered through the disk ata flow rate of 1-2 ml/min. The resulting solution was then titrated withaqueous HCl and compared with the original amine solution to determineif the disk had retained any of the butylamine. The data showed that0.08 milliequivalents (meq) of the butylamine were retained by the disk,as compared to 0.27 meq in the original 5 ml. This corresponded to about30% removal.

Another sample of the same article was then evaluated using an aqueousstock solution of ammonium hydroxide to determine the amount of ammoniumcation removed by the disk. In this case, 5 ml of stock solution wastitrated with aqueous HCl and found to have 0.43 meq of ammonium ion.Another five ml of stock solution, passed through the disk, had only0.13 meq remaining, indicating that the disk had removed 70% of theammonium ion from the stock solution.

A stack of articles comprising the article of this Example and a sampleidentical to 3D of Example 1 can be used to remove both cations andneutral species from aqueous solution.

EXAMPLE 19

This example demonstrates the ability of a cation-exchange resin-loadedarticle to remove cationic materials from aqueous solutions. Thiscation-exchange resin is different from the material in Example 1.

A blown microfiber article was prepared as in Example 1 except it wasparticle loaded with a Rohm and Haas weak acid cation exchange resin,Grade K, having a mean particle size of 75 micrometers and a loadingpercentage of 87% by weight and it was calendered as in Example 1 at atemperature of 21° C. and 276 kPa. General details of the chemicaltesting were the same as in Example 18 except as noted. The article hada Gurley time of 2 seconds.

To test this article for the ability to remove ammonium ion from aqueoussolution, 50 ml of aqueous 0.1N HCl were passed through the disk,followed by 50 ml of water, to displace the potassium counterion with ahydrogen counterion. The disk retained 0.39 meq of ammonium ion from the5 ml of solution, out of a possible 0.43 meq originally present,calculating to 91% removal of the ammonium ion.

The same article was tested for removal of the n-butylamine from aqueoussolution, after conversion to the hydrogen form by HCl, as above. Theresults are that this article removed 36% of the amine from the aqueoussolution.

EXAMPLE 20

This example demonstrates the ability of a strong cation-exchangingarticle to remove cationic species from solution.

A blown microfiber article was prepared as in Example 1 except that itwas particle loaded with a Rohm and Haas strong acid cation exchangeresin, grade NA, having a mean particle size of 85 micrometers and aloading percentage of 89% by weight and it was calendered as in Example1 at a temperature of 21° C. and 276 kPa. This article had a Gurley timeof 4 seconds.

General details of the chemical testing are the same as Examples 18 and19 except as noted.

Disks of this material removed 74% of the ammonium ions and 100% of then-butylamine ions.

EXAMPLE 21

This example illustrates the utility of an anion-exchangeresin-containing article in removing anionic material from solution.

A blown microfiber article was prepared as in Example 1 and particleloaded with a Cl form, Lot #ECP-768™ anion exchange resin (Rohm andHaas), a strong basic anion exchange resin, having a mean particle sizeless than 200 micrometers at a loading percentage of 86% by weight andcalendered as in Example 1 at a temperature of 21° C. and 276 kPa. Thearticle had a Gurley time of 3 seconds.

Except where noted, the general details of the chemical testing are thesame as Examples 18, 19, and 20.

After pre-wetting with methanol, the disk was washed with about 50 ml of0.1M aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution to displace the chloridecounter-ion with a bicarbonate counter-ion. At this point, 5 ml of 0.05Maqueous nitric acid (0.18 meq) was passed through the disk. By titratingthe solution that passed through the disk with aqueous potassiumhydroxide, it was determined that the disk retained 67% of the nitrate.A repeat test done in the same manner gave a 72% recovery.

EXAMPLE 22

This example illustrates preparation and performance of compositearticles prepared by mechanical pressing instead of calendering.

Sample A was prepared by mixing 2 grams of microbundles of polypropyleneblown microfiber using the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,229,Example 1, which is incorporated herein by reference, with 0.5 grams ofC₈ silica powder, 8 μm in diameter, in a Waring blender for 5 seconds.The resulting mixture was pressed with 137,900 kPa (20,000 psi) into acircular billet 5.1 cm (2 inches) in diameter by 0.13 cm (0.050 inches)thick.

Sample B was identical to Sample A, except that 10,000 psi was used forpressing.

The disks were used in much the same manner as the Empore™ ExtractionDisks, (see Hagen, et al., Analytica Chimica Acta 236 (1990) 157-164)namely, the disk was placed in a standard 47 mm laboratory Millipore™filtration device, pre-wet with a few ml of methanol, washed with a fewml of water, being careful not to let the disk surface go dry after theaddition of methanol, then passing a liter of reagent grade watercontaining 0.5% methanol and 100 micrograms per liter of Disperse Red 1(Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, Wis.) through the disk with a vacuumassist.

Evaluation of these disks was accomplished as described above with thered dye. After filtration of a liter of the dye-spiked water, the dyewas eluted from the disk with two 5-ml portions of methanol. The eluateswere combined and the intensity of the color was read in aspectrophotometer at 480 nanometers. This intensity was compared to thatof a standard dye solution which was volumetrically adjusted to be theconcentration which would be obtained for a 100% recovery from the disk.The data are shown below in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Disk                                                                          Sample    Flow time/Liter                                                                            Dye Recovery (%)                                       ______________________________________                                        A         7 min. 14 sec.                                                                             95                                                     B         6 min. 52 sec.                                                                             95                                                     ______________________________________                                    

Samples A and B functioned similarly to the performance of the Empore™Extraction Disks, which typically give 100% recovery of the dye insimilar flow times.

To further test the sorption characteristics of the disks, Samples A andB, a solution of four phthalates was spiked into a liter of water andrun, again in the same fashion as detailed above, with the exception ofthe final analytical determination, which was high performance liquidchromatography. The results are listed in Table 4, below.

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Phthalate recoveries:                                                         Disk Dimethyl Diethyl  Dibutyl Dioctyl                                                                              Time/Liter                              ______________________________________                                        A    21       69       88      8      8 min. 04 sec.                          B    36       85       88      4      6 min. 00 sec.                          ______________________________________                                    

The family of phthalates provides a more demanding test of sorptioncompared to the red dye of Example 1 because the phthalates are not ashydrophobic as the red dye. The article of the invention was effectivein retaining diethyl and dibutyl phthalates. The low recoveries ofdioctyl phthalate were believed to be due to bulk sorption of thephthalates by the article, and relatively inefficient desorption duringthe short elution step. Low recoveries for the dimethyl phthalate werenot unexpected, and were due to the relatively substantial watersolubility of that compound. To confirm the performance of the disks inremoving these phthalates from the liter of water, these trials werere-run with very similar recoveries.

EXAMPLE 23 to 27

Polypropylene fibers approximately 18 micrometers average diameterhaving encapsulated therein silica particles having average size ofapproximately 150 micrometers in diameter were used in these Examples.

The particles were sprinkled over a very lightweight 8 g/m² RFX™spunbonded polypropylene nonwoven web (manufactured by Amoco Inc.,Hazlehurst, Ga.) and the web was agitated so that the silica particlesbecame enmeshed in the interstitial spaces of the web.

Excess particles were shaken off each layer and several layers of theresulting particle-loaded webs were stacked. The layers were pressedinto a composite article using heat and pressure and time as noted inTABLE 5, below.

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        SILICA PARTICLE LOADED                                                        SAMPLES OF POLYPROPYLENE                                                                    Weight                                                                        %                                                                      No.    load-   Num-             Gurley                                        of     ing of  ber of                                                                              Press-                                                                              Sec. no.   Thick-                                  lay-   parti-  press-                                                                              ing   per  (sec/ ness                             Example                                                                              ers.sup.a                                                                            cles.sup.b                                                                            ings  temps.sup.d                                                                         press                                                                              50 cc)                                                                              (mm)                             ______________________________________                                        23     10     32      4     150° C.                                                                      4    0.3   0.46                             24     20     19      8     150° C.                                                                      4    1.1   0.79                             25     20     22      24    150° C.                                                                      4                                                                 1     175° C.                                                                      5    97    0.74                             26     10      0      2     175° C.                                                                      2    1.6   0.38                             (compar-                                                                      ative)                                                                        27     20      0      2     175° C.                                                                      1.5  19    0.79                             (compar-                                                                      ative)                                                                        ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Amoco RFX centrifugally spun polypropylene fibers (AMOCO, Inc.,        Hazlehurst, GA), 8 g/m.sup.2, average fiber diameter of 18 micrometers        supplied by Amoco, Inc. having enmeshed therein particles.sup.b               .sup.b Silica, Mallinckrodt, St. Louis, MO 63160, 100 mesh (average size      about 150 micrometers)                                                        .sup.d Sentinel Press Model 808, Packaging Industries Group, Hyannis, MA      02601                                                                    

Evaluation of Spunbonded composites

The composite webs of EXAMPLES 23, 24, and 25, silica loaded spunbondedpolypropylene nonwoven webs, were cut into TLC strips and evaluated as aseparations media. A direct phase, test dye sample (ANALTECH, Newark,Del., catalog #30-03) containing Sudan II, Solvent Green 3, Sudan OrangeG, Sudan Red 7B, and Sudan Blue II was used with toluene as the elutionsolvent.

The toluene wicking rate was fast (50 mm/10 min.) indicating relativelylarge flow through interstitial porosity. Separations were obtained withsome of the test probe dyes moving with the solvent front and othersremaining near the sample spotting point. This indicated that silica hadnot lost its sorbent activity when entrapped in a nonwoven article.

Similar nonwoven composites can be made using air-laid or carded webswhich can also be useful in the present invention.

Various modifications and alterations of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of this invention, and it should be understood that thisinvention is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodimentsset forth herein.

We claim:
 1. A particle loaded, porous, fibrous, at least one of atleast one of compressed or fused, article comprisinga) a thermoplasticnonwoven fibrous polymeric web, and b) sorptive particles enmeshed insaid web,wherein said particle loaded fibrous article has beencompressed or fused by at least one of calendering, heating, andapplying pressure to provide said article with controlled porosity and aGurley number of at least four seconds, and wherein said article isuseful in separation science.
 2. The article according to claim 1comprising a nonwoven fibrous web selected from the group consisting ofpolyamide, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyester, and polyvinylhalide. 3.The article according to claim 1 having a thickness of at least 20percent less than an unpressed article.
 4. The article according toclaim 1 comprising in the range of 30 to 70 volume percent polymericfibers and in the range of 70 to 30 volume percent air.
 5. The articleaccording to claim 2 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
 6. Thearticle according to claim 1 wherein said particles are selected fromthe group consisting of an organic compound or polymer, an inorganicoxide, carbon, and a support particle coated with an insoluble,non-swellable sorbed or bonded coating.
 7. The article according toclaim 4 wherein said inorganic oxide is selected from the groupconsisting of silica, alumina, titania, and zirconia.
 8. The articleaccording to claim 6 wherein said sorbed coating is polybutadiene orsaid covalently bonded coating is selected from the group consisting ofa cyano, cyclohexyl, octyl, and octadecyl group.
 9. The articleaccording to claim 1 wherein said polymer is present in the range of 5to less than 100 weight percent and said particles are present in therange of more than 0 to 95 weight percent.
 10. The article according toclaim 1 wherein said particles comprise at least 20 weight percent ofsaid fibrous web.
 11. The article according to claim 1 wherein saidparticles comprise at least 50 weight percent of said fibrous web. 12.The article according to claim 1 wherein said particles comprise atleast 80 weight percent of the fibrous web.
 13. The article according toclaim 1 further comprising up to 20 weight percent property modifiers toaid at least one of increasing hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, toindicate pH, to facilitate processing, and in coloring.
 14. The articleaccording to claim 1 wherein said pores have a mean pore size in therange of 0.2 to 10 micrometers.
 15. The article according to claim 1wherein said Gurley time is at least
 5. 16. The article according toclaim 1 wherein said sorptive particles are ion-exchange or chelatingparticles.
 17. The article according to claim 1 wherein said sorptiveparticles have chiral functionality.
 18. The article according to claim1 wherein said sorptive particles have affinity functionality.
 19. Thearticle according to claim 1 which is a solid phase extraction medium.20. The article according to claim 1 which is a chromatographic medium.21. A stack of 2 or more disks wherein each disk is a solid phaseextraction medium and at least one of said disks is according toclaim
 1. 22. The article according to claim 1 wherein saidthermoplastic, nonwoven, fibrous, polymeric web is a melt-blown web.